Luggage carrier for automobiles



Oct 29, 1929. F. A. HOLMES LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 24. 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK A. HOLMES, OE IOVA FALLS, IOWA LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES Application filed December 24, 1928. Serial No. 328,277.

The object of my invention is to provide a and inwardly toward the longitudinal cenluggage carrier of simple, durable and inexter of the automobile from the front ends of pensive construction, especially designed to the automobile frame, and also extending be readily and quickly applied to an automodownwardly and forwardly from the front of bile at the space in front of the radiator usualthe radiator. The latter portion of the shield ly occupied by the motor crank. is indicated by the numeral in Figure 1;

A further object is to provide a luggage and the side members of this shield are indicarrier of this class, so constructed and arcated by the numeral 16 in Figures 2 and 3. ranged that when necessary the operator may All of the parts just described are of the ordi- 10 readily, quickly and easily apply a crank to nary construction. the engine shaft and turn it for startin the My improved luggage carrier comprises a engine, without removing the luggage carrier. body portion made of sheet metal and sub- A further object is to provide improved and stantially rectangular and of such length as simplified means for detachably connecting to extend from the shield member 15 at the 15 the luggage carrier with the automobile frame rear to a point just behind the front bumper G5 and front bumper in such manner that it will 12, and of a width to extend from one frame be securely held in position in such manner member to the other. In height it extends that it cannot rattle or become displaced by from a point substantially even with the lower ordinary shocks or jars to which it might be edge of the shield 15 to a point adjacent to 0 subjected. the top of the frame members 10.

My invention consists in the construction, From the foregoing it will be seen that my arrangement and combination of the various improved luggage carrier does not in any way parts of the device, whereby the objects coninterfere with the use of the automobile or templated are attained, as hereinafter more occupy any space that would make it objec- 25 fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and tionable or interfere with any of the ordinary illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in uses of the automobile, except in regard to the which: crank, as will hereinafter appear, and access Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a pormay be very easily and readily had to the tion of an automobile with my improved lugluggage carrier at all times.

30 gage carrier applied thereto. The luggage carrier comprises a front sheet Figure 2 shows a front elevation of my immetal member indicated by the numeral 17 proved luggage carrier and a part of an auto having its top extended forwardly and then mobile radiator and a bumper showing the downwardly at 18 with a rubber cushion 19 relative position of the luggage carrier to the therein designed to fit on top of the front bumper and radiator. bumper 12, as shown in Figure 4:. The sides Figure 3 shows an enlarged transverse secare indicated generally by the numeral 20 tional view taken on the line 33 of Figure and at their upper ends they are folded down- 1; and wardly, then outwardly and then downward- Figuredshows an enlarged, vertical, longi- 1y again at 21, and a rubber cushion 22 is tudinal sectlonal view taken on the line 44 applied to their under surfaces as shown in of Figure 3. Figure 3, and this cushion is designed to rest Referring to the accompanylng drawings, I upon the front end of the frame member 10. have used the reference numeral 10 to 1nd1- The rear member of the luggage carrier is cate generally the side frame members of an indicated by the numeral 23 and has an openautomobile, projecting in front of the radiaing formed therein at 24 to receive the engine 9 tor, 11 indicates the radiator, 12 the front crank. V

bumper, 13 a portion of the crank case of the The lower edges of the front, back and automobile engine, and 14 the engine crank. sides are bent first inwardly toward the center Automobiles are usually also provided with of the luggage carrier and then upwardly at a sheet metal shield extending downwardly 25, as shown in Figures 3 and 4t, and are de- 19 vent it from entering the luggage carrier.

. cured in shield members 1 5'and 16, is appliedto the "rear signed to receive the bottom member. The bottom is preferably formed of two parts, the part 26 being the front member and having its front and side edges extended straight downwardly at 27, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to enter the channels formed by the parts 25. The rear end of the bottom member 26 is bent downwardly, then rearwardly and then upwardly at 28 to form a channel for the rear bottom member 29, which has downwardly extended edges designed to enter the channel 28 and also the channel 30 formed on the lower edge of the rear member 23.

By means of this arrangement it is obvious that if at any time it is necessary to use a crank for thel engine, sertedthrough the top ofthe luggage carrier and through the opening 24;- in the-rear end of the luggage carrier, and then it may be turned part of a revolution, whichis often all thatis-necessary for cranking purposes.

In the event, however, that is-should'be necessary to turn the crank through a com-' alete circle, then the operator simply presses upwardly upon the bottom member 29 from below. andloosensit and, then removes it, and when this is done, theoperator can just as conveniently turn the crank through a complete circle as he could if the not present. 7

The top. of the luggage carrier is preferably formed with two membersv divided along a central longitudinal line. These members EtIGlIlCllCfltGCls by the numerals 31 and 32, and they are hinged at their outer edges at 33' to the upper edges of the side members of'the luggage carrier;

luggage carrier were The inner edges of the top members over-- lap to'a considerable extent, as shown in F igure 3, andboth are formed with a '-shaped depressionto collect and drain water and pre- In this connection, I preferably make the rear end of the luggage carrier slightly higher than the front, and as shown in Figure so: that the water may drain toward the front.

The hinged member 31 is preferably pro vided with a spring 34: to yieldingly hold it downwardly and prevent rattling and latches 35, of ordinary construction, are provided for holding thetwo members in-looked position;

In applying my improved luggage carrier to an automobile, I place it in position from above, and its rear end will= thenengage the and when pressure end, these shield members will gring outwardly until theluggage downwardly to the carrier has been moved desired position, whereupon theresiliency of these shield'members will firmlyandsecurely hold the rear end of the luggage carrier in position and prevent rattling. V

The luggage carrier [is permanently seposition by meansof, a bolt 36 extended through the front ofthe luggage-can By pressing the thecrank may be inrier and between the upper and lower members of the bumper, and secured to the rounded plate 37 in front of the bumper, as shown in Figure 4. Obviously when the nut 38 on the bolt is drawn tight, the entire luggage carrier is immovably held in position. V

In practice it is obvious that my improved luggage-carrier may be made very cheaply and inexpensively of sheet metal, and that it maybe readily, quickly and easily applied to or removed from an automobile without in any way injuringthe autotmobile, and without removing any of the automobile parts.

rear end of the luggage carrier downwardly in position and springing the shield men1bers1l5and16 outwardly to receive it, it is obvious that the-luggage carrierwill be securely held against rattling. Hence, only one bolt at the front is necessary to securely hold it in place. 7

In the event thatit should become necessary to use a crank, the operator need only open the front ofthe luggage carrier and the crank can be applied and used in the ordinary way for a part turn. In some instances,.however, it is necessary to give the crank a full circle movement, andwhen this is necessary, the rear member 29' may be readily andeasily removed to allow afull' swing of. the cranln The many advantages of having aluggage carrier occupy the-space between the radiator and? the bumper are obvious.

'I claim as-myin-venti on: I

l. The combination with an automobile having a front bumper and a shield extending downwardly'ini front ofthe radiator, of aluggage carrier shaped to enter between the shield-and: the bumper-and to besupported in such positionby the shield and bumper;

2; The combination with an automobile having a frontbumperand a shield extend ing downwardly in front of the radiator, of a luggage carrier shaped to enter-between the shield and the bumper and to be supported in such position by -the-shield a-nd bumper, and a bolt for detachably connecting the front of the luggage carrier to the bumper; V

3. In combination with an automobile havinga front'bumperan d. a shield extending downwardly from the front ends of the auto.- mobile frame and; forwardly from the front central portion of the automobile frame, and a luggage carrier to enter between the shield and bumper, and soshaped and proportioned that it maybe inserted'in saidspace from above, and when pressed downwardly it will spring the side shield downwardly and outwardly and the front shield downwardly and rearwardly, to thereby cause the shield members to yielding-1y support the-luggage carrier and to prevent it from rattling.

4. Thei'combination withf an automobile having a front bumper and a shield extendi'ng downwardly in front'ofthe radiator, of a luggagecarrier shaped to enter between the shield and the bumper and to be supported in such position by the shield and bumper, the rear member of the luggage carrier being formed with a crank opening, and the bottom of the luggage carrier being provided with a detachable plate, whereby the crank may be inserted through the top of the luggage carrier and through the opening in the rear thereof to connect with the engine crank and to permit full rotation of the crank shaft without removing the luggage carrier.

5. In combination with an automobile having a shield at its front end, a bumper in front of the shield, of a luggage carrier formed of sheet metal substantially rectangular in shape and having side members extended outwardly and then downwardly to engage and rest upon the automobile frame members at the front, a front member formed with a bolt opening, a bolt extended through said opening, a plate at its front to engage the front of the bumper, and a nut at its rear end for adjustment, the rear member being formed with a crank opening, the bottom of the luggage carrier being formed with a detachable bottom member capable of removal upwardly through the luggage carrier, the top member of the luggage carrier composed of two hinge members overlapping at their longitudinal central portions and being formed with a drainage groove in both members, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, December 15, 1928.

FREDERICK A. HOLMES. 

